My Wing Chair Slipcover Reveal!!

March 16, 2011

Look at my Wing Chair Slipcover!

I know, your jaws are just dropping, right?!! How awesome does that look?!Okay here’s the truth. I do think it looks amazing. Really. I find myself admiring my work several times a day. But this wing chair slipcover is NOT without mistakes and flaws!! I spent much longer working on it than I thought. Let me take you through my journey…

Remember how I pinned on some sheets for a temporary slipcover? I was planning on buying some real canvas fabric to make a slipcover, which I would get to AFTER I got through my many multiple other projects. But like I said, the chair was just taunting me over and over to just make a slipcover already! And I thought, “Hmm…maybe I should just use that sheet!” I liked the look of the satin stripes on it and I had a matching fitted sheet. They were sheets we’d had for a long time.

Could I do it with the two sheets?

The answer?

Heck, yes!

(I’m from Utah so I can say that.)

Here’s the original chair, to refresh your memory. (A great Goodwill find for $20!)

I didn’t take step by step photos because I’ve never done this before and let’s be honest…it was a very unprofessional journey! But basically how I started was by cutting out pieces to the approximate shape and pinning the pieces together, rights sides inward. I left extra room in the places where I knew I would be tucking so the slipcover would look more fitted. I wrote on it with erasable fabric pen to label the pieces. And for the curvy pieces, I traced around it with the pen and cut two (one for each side.) I sewed a couple of pleats in the top of the ‘wing’ so that it would fit nicely around the curve.

For the cushion, I traced around the cushion shape with the fabric pen and cut out two. I measured the height and cut two long strips (one to go around and one for the zipper piece.) The zipper was freaking easy to put it…do NOT be intimidated by zippers! Conquer your fear!!! And clearly it’s not smooth and pretty but I didn’t care because it would be hidden.

I loved the pleated skirt but I knew I wouldn’t want to iron those every time I washed the slipcover, so I made it detachable with velcro going all the way around.

I made the back fit snugly by putting velcro on both sides. Works great because I can undo the velcro and easily take the slipcover off, but then it looks tight and secure when it’s fastened. And with the pleated skirt you can’t even see them!

The wings were actually not that tricky. I opted to not do piping down the wing, mostly because I had just run out and didn’t want to get more.

If you look closely in this picture, you can see my biggest mistake. The biggest and most troublesome area was the ‘armpit’ of the chair…where the arm meets the wing. I had clipped the fabric after sewing it but realized I had made the seam too small. So I had to go back and add in more fabric. It’s not really noticeable and it fit much better after. The other hard part was the front of the arms, mostly because of the curves. And I could have sworn I cut them with straight stripes!! But apparently not.

Overall, I think it was a very successful first slipcover. And it was a wing chair slipcover!

And I learned SO much while doing it. You HAVE to take on big projects from time to time in order to expand your skills!

After I finished with this slipcover, I have decided that YES, I AM going to make my couch slipcover! I actually think it will be easier than the chair, simple because my couch has way fewer curves. I have a precise plan of attack, and I will definitely be sure to take a ton of step-by-step pictures.

What do you think?

Did I do a good job? 🙂

UPDATE: Since this post I have completed my Couch Slipcover! There are much more detailed instructions in the Slipcover Post Series I wrote. If you want to see how I did this, please come visit these links and pin them for future reference!

Great job, Heidi! Your slipcover looks fantastic. I've been thinking of making one for my rocking lounge/nursing chair but the curves of the arms frighten me. I think I might actually take it on now. I can't wait to see how your couch turns out.

oh my gosh! soo amazing! i have 2 wingback chairs i am getting ready to inherit from my grandpa’s house, and i was contemplating making them. this makes me think i may be able to handle it! a lot of work, but oh so worth it!

I think you did a fabulous job!!!! I tried to make a slip cover several years ago and I had the worst problem trying to figure out how the back of the chair front, and the inside arms and seat were sewn together in the back seat corners and the sides allowing the extra inches for tuck in. I pulled it off and never figured it out!!!! I wanted to jump on it as that usually allows me to get my sillies out, but I didn’t this time; too many pins!! It is funny, that you breezed right through my most difficult part and I had no trouble with the parts you found difficult. If you or any one wishes to write and give me a hint on how to do it, I’d really appreciate it as I have two chairs to do and not much more hair available to pull out. Now mind you, I have only been sewing for 60 years.

Thanks Kate! Believe me, it was not as easy as maybe I made it seem. At first everything was going great and did seem pretty manageable. But I was a little over zealous with joining the wings with the arms and ended up having to piece it a bit. The other very hard part was the arms. I think I could do a better job if I were more careful! However, the best tip I can offer is to mark where you want your seams to be with a fabric pen. You have to pin it, of course, but marking the exact line really helps to figure out where EXACTLY to sew. Good luck!

What a great job!!!! I have a chair exactly like that and have been afraid to tackle it. Are you at all near PA? I’d hire you to do mine. 🙂 Keep up the good work. Just happened onto this site a few minutes ago so am going to check it out more. Anxious to see pictures of the couch when done.

Hi ! My name is Ellisann and I am new at blogging, and may I say that I am Lovin it!
I stumbled upon your blog, while looking for instructions on making a slipcover for my couch.
This information has been very helpful ! Your chair looks awesome, I love the ruffle!!!

I think you did a wonderful job on the chair slip cover. It looks so bright and clean. You did outstanding work for your 1st time doing one. I have 2 couches that I want to cover the cushions only to keep them from getting so dirty from my grand-children. I have been thinking about trying to make them our of painter’s backdrop material that is cream color. I just don’t know if I could figure it out or not. Right now I am working on trying to make custom curtains for my kitchen windows. If they turn out good, maybe I will try a cushion. You inspired me.

Ms. Heidi I do declare between this and the couch post you have some fabulous slip cover tutorials. Can you post or email some more detailed pictures of how you used velcro on the arms of the wing chair to make everything fit tight around the wider part of the arm?? I have a couch chair set that have seen better days (bright red coincidentally) and I can’t seem to fashion an arm piece that keeps the shape but still slides over the wider top of the arm. So frustrating!

The chair looks great. It was the drop cloth slip cover on here that my daughter saw and insisted that I could also do to her couch and chair. I put her off for several months but she finally won out and as it turned out I felt good about the way they turned out. I wonder if it would be a bit easier with a sheet than the drop cloth?

I recently decided I would make a wing chair slipcover after finding out it would cost $325 for a slipcover and $475 to have it reupholstered. The chair is old but in good condition. Picked out my fabric, not totally sure of how much to get since it is plaid, anywhere from 6-8 yards I have been told. I was delighted to find your tips as I googled how to make a wing chair slipcover. Thanks for the idea of using a sheet as a pattern. Hoping I can match up the plaid without too much waste. I am now anxious to get started. You have given me inspirations! Thank YOU ! Jan

You did an awesome job! I have dived into a chair slipcover project, myself, after putting it off for years!! My problem now is how to insert the cushion into the slipcover? It has the tee at the front like yours and I can’t slid each tee thingy into the cover! How did you get the cover on your cushion! Thanks for any tips!

Great tutorial – so easy to understand and follow. I am now working on slipcovers for two of my chairs and have been wondering how to finish the bottom edge of these covers. Since they are made to be removable, the bottom edge – hidden under the skirt cannot be fastened to the underside of the chair. So what do I do to make the slip cover stay in place at the
bottom edge? Any clues? Does the back just hang down and the weight of the skirt keep it in place?

Any suggestions, etc. would be most welcome, I’m well and truly perplexed – or maybe I’m just overthinking it.

I was thinking you could make some sort of belt that attaches underneath the chair. My slipcover stays in place because I put some velcro openings at the back which when I open them I can slip off the cover and when they are closed the slipcover is very tight and secure.

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[…] underwent my biggest sewing challenge yet–my couch slipcover. I had a little practice on my Wing Chair Slipcover which turned out decently. Since then I’ve had lots of questions about slipcovering. But […]